Tan Seng Chong (1874-1927)

by Dr. Lai Chee Kien

image courtesy of Ms. Wong Ting Hway

Tan Seng Chong (1874-1927), architect and director of Tan Seng Chong & Co., was listed as the first Chinese person to commence his own architectural practice in Singapore (i.e. as sole proprietor). Born on the island when it was part of the Straits Settlements in 1875, he was educated at Raffles Institution before joining the Singapore Municipality as an apprentice in 1897.

After serving there for 13 years, he commenced private practice in 1910. His office on the top floor of 14, Raffles Quay employed an assistant manager (E.D. Cashin), a chief draughtsman (H. Amin) and an overseer of work (Syed Hamid). The firm also billed itself as surveyors and building agents, and undertook a range of work including the design of the Empire Cinema at Neil Road (1916), works on a Chinese temple (1919), factories, depots and industrial structures.

He designed many bungalows, houses and stretches of shophouses including seven (Nos. 4 – 16) at Emerald Hill Road. His clients included many notables of the day, like Lim Peng Siang, Tan Kah Kee, Tan Chay Yan and Eu Tong Sen. Tan Seng Chong is buried with wife and their tombs are in the way of the proposed highway.

Stake numbers : 1945 and 1946 at Hill 2 in Bukit Brown

The twin tombs of Tan Seng Chong (1945) and wife (1946)  in the background, with students documenting the staked graves  (photo by Lai Chee Kien)

The Rojak Librarian has more on the life and times of Tan Seng Chong and his family.

Dr. Lai Chee Kien  is an architectural historian and Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore

Lai Chee Kien at a recent talk he gave on the material culture of Bukit Brown (photo by Bianca Polak)

You can view Dr Lai’s talk on the material culture of Bukit Brown here